Feb. 16, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Ibadan Zone has set up monitoring teams in three tertiary institutions to ensure compliance to the one-month industrial action.

The three institutions are: the University of Ibadan (UI); Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

Speaking on Wednesday after its Congress, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, ASUU Chairman UI; Prof. Abiodun Olaniran, ASUU Chairman of LAUTECH; and Prof. Moyosore Ajao, ASUU Chairman of UNILORIN, maintained that ASUU was pained by the warning strike.

They, however, declared that ASUU could no longer subject the welfare of her members to evasive federal government’s tactics.

The trio stated that the union felt that rather than going on full blown strike, it should, in the interest of the students, embark on the one-month warning strike to see if the government would do the needful.

They noted that failure to do so would ultimately leave the lecturers with no choice, but to embark on an indefinite strike.

They added that the strike was already having an effect on academic activities, processing of final oral examinations for doctoral students, and academic seminars, which were put on hold until after the strike.

Akinwole said; “the demands of the union included the signing of renegotiated agreements which border on the salaries and conditions of service of lecturers.

“Others were mainstreaming of earned academic allowances and the release of the white paper report on the federal government’s visitation panels, among others.”

ASUU Ibadan Zone leaders noted that the strike monitoring teams would ensure total compliance.

“The universities which are in the Ibadan Zone of the union held their respective congresses presided over by their chairpersons, with a resolve to ensure that lecturers would not teach nor attend any statutory meeting while the strike lasted.

“The congresses ended with the activation of strike monitoring committees, to ensure that all members obeyed the union’s directives.

“Our members feel the pain and have shown commitment to the struggle.

“They know it is for us to fight for our destinies and be better treated after staying on the same conditions of service for 13 years, despite the hardship in the country.

“The same lecturers, who are given second to nothing, still struggle to put the name of Nigeria on global ranking of universities despite poor investment in education by the Federal Government.

“We have reached a point when we are saying treat us well, give us a new welfare system and sound conditions of service, so that our members can live good lives and enjoy the fruits of their labour,” the union said.

The strike has won full implementation as it entered day three.

At the University of Ibadan, lecture rooms in the Faculties of Arts, the Social Sciences, and Science, among others, were opened, but empty with no teaching activities taking place.

Students were seen loitering around or discussing in groups. (NAN)